ai-tools

name	ai-tools
description	Manage AI CLI tools (Claude Code, Gemini CLI, Codex CLI). Use when user asks about AI tool versions, updates, installation, or wants to update/install their AI CLI tools. Detects installed tools using two-tier detection (PATH + npm fallback), installs missing tools, checks versions, and retrieves update instructions from authoritative sources using delegation-first pattern. Use when this capability is needed.
metadata	{"author":"melodic-software"}

AI Tools Management

Extensible AI CLI tools management with delegation-first design. Detects installed tools, installs missing tools, reports versions, and retrieves update instructions from authoritative sources.

Design Principles

1. No hardcoded documentation - Never duplicate docs that exist elsewhere
2. Delegation-first - Route to ecosystem skills/agents for authoritative guidance
3. Graceful fallback - Skill -> MCP research -> web search
4. Extensible - Easy to add new tools via tool-registry.md
5. Two-tier detection - PATH check first, npm global fallback second
6. Install capability - Offer to install missing tools via delegation

Workflow

Step 1: Detect Installed Tools (Two-Tier)

Check which AI CLI tools are installed using two-tier detection:

Tier 1 - PATH check:

# Claude Code
command -v claude &>/dev/null && claude --version 2>/dev/null || echo "NOT_IN_PATH"

# Gemini CLI
command -v gemini &>/dev/null && gemini --version 2>/dev/null || echo "NOT_IN_PATH"

# Codex CLI
command -v codex &>/dev/null && codex --version 2>/dev/null || echo "NOT_IN_PATH"

Tier 2 - npm global fallback (for tools not found in PATH):

# Check npm global packages for tools not in PATH
npm list -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code --depth=0 2>/dev/null
npm list -g @google/gemini-cli --depth=0 2>/dev/null
npm list -g @openai/codex --depth=0 2>/dev/null

Report which tools are installed with their current versions. Classify each as:

• Installed (found in PATH) - version detected
• Installed (npm only) - found via npm but not in PATH (may need PATH fix)
• Not installed - not found by either method

Step 2: Install Missing Tools (Delegation Pattern)

For each tool that is not installed, offer to install it using the delegation chain from the tool registry's Install Delegation Chain.

Default behavior: Offer to install missing tools (prompt user for confirmation).

• --install mode: Install missing tools without prompting
• --no-install mode: Skip installation, only report and update existing tools

Claude Code

Primary: Invoke claude-ecosystem:docs-management skill with query "Claude Code install setup"

Fallback 1: Spawn claude-code-guide agent to find install docs

Fallback 2: mcp__perplexity__search("Claude Code CLI install npm")

Fallback 3: WebSearch("Claude Code CLI install")

Gemini CLI

Primary: Invoke google-ecosystem:gemini-cli-docs skill with query "install setup npm"

Fallback 1: mcp__perplexity__search("Google Gemini CLI npm install setup")

Fallback 2: WebSearch("Google Gemini CLI npm install")

Codex CLI

Primary: Invoke openai-ecosystem:codex-cli-docs skill with query "install setup npm"

Fallback 1: mcp__perplexity__search("OpenAI Codex CLI npm install setup")

Fallback 2: WebSearch("OpenAI Codex CLI npm install")

After installation, re-run detection to confirm and report installed versions.

Step 3: Get Update Instructions (Delegation Pattern)

For each installed tool that needs updating, retrieve instructions from authoritative sources using the delegation chain from the tool registry's Delegation Chain.

Claude Code

Primary: Invoke claude-ecosystem:docs-management skill with query "Claude Code update install upgrade"

Fallback 1: If skill unavailable, spawn claude-code-guide agent:

First WebFetch https://code.claude.com/docs/en/claude_code_docs_map.md to find
update/install documentation. Then WebFetch those pages. Return the update commands.

Fallback 2: If agent unavailable, use MCP:

mcp__perplexity__search("Claude Code CLI update install latest version 2026")

Fallback 3: WebSearch for "Claude Code CLI update install"

Gemini CLI

Primary: Invoke google-ecosystem:gemini-cli-docs skill with query "update install upgrade npm"

Fallback 1: If skill unavailable, use MCP:

mcp__perplexity__search("Google Gemini CLI npm update install latest version 2026")

Fallback 2: WebSearch for "Google Gemini CLI npm install update"

Codex CLI

Primary: Invoke openai-ecosystem:codex-cli-docs skill with query "update install upgrade npm"

Fallback 1: If skill unavailable, use MCP:

mcp__perplexity__search("OpenAI Codex CLI npm update install latest version 2026")

Fallback 2: WebSearch for "OpenAI Codex CLI npm install update"

Step 4: Execute Updates

After retrieving authoritative update instructions:

1. Present the update commands to user
2. If --dry-run mode, stop here (show what would happen)
3. Otherwise, execute the update commands
4. Report new versions after updates complete

Step 5: Report Results

Provide a summary table:

Tool	Before	After	Status
Claude Code	vX.X.X	vY.Y.Y	Updated
Gemini CLI	Not installed	vX.X.X	Installed
Codex CLI	vX.X.X	vY.Y.Y	Updated

Possible statuses: Updated, Installed, Already latest, Skipped, Failed, Not installed (--no-install)

Tool Registry

See references/tool-registry.md for the complete tool registry with:

• Detection commands (two-tier: PATH + npm fallback)
• npm package names and install types
• Delegation sources (skills, agents, MCP queries)
• Install delegation chains
• Fallback search queries

Adding New Tools

To add a new AI CLI tool:

1. Add entry to references/tool-registry.md with:

   • Detection command (how to check if installed)
   • npm package name and install type
   • Version command (how to get current version)
   • Docs source (which skill/agent has authoritative docs)
   • Search query (fallback for MCP/web search)
   • Install delegation chain

2. No code changes needed - the workflow automatically handles tools in the registry

Supported Modes

• Default: Update all installed tools, offer to install missing tools
• --tool NAME: Update/install specific tool only
• --dry-run: Show what would happen without executing
• --check: Only check versions, don't update or install
• --install: Install missing tools without prompting
• --no-install: Skip installation of missing tools, only update existing

Error Handling

• Tool not installed (default): Offer to install via delegation chain
• Tool not installed (--no-install): Skip gracefully, report in summary
• npm not in PATH: Detected via npm fallback, suggest PATH fix
• Skill unavailable: Fall back to MCP search
• MCP unavailable: Fall back to web search
• Update fails: Report error, continue with other tools
• Install fails: Report error with delegation source that failed, continue with other tools
• No authoritative source found: Report inability to update/install, suggest manual check

Why Delegation?

Update and install commands change over time:

• Package managers evolve (npm -> pnpm, pip -> uv)
• Installation methods change (npm global -> npx)
• Flags and options get added/deprecated

By delegating to ecosystem skills that maintain current documentation, this skill stays accurate without manual updates.

Test Scenarios

Scenario 1: Check installed tools

Given: User asks "what AI tools do I have installed?" Then: Detect all tools using two-tier detection and report versions

Scenario 2: Update all tools

Given: User asks "update my AI tools" Then: Detect installed tools, retrieve update instructions via delegation, execute updates

Scenario 3: Update specific tool

Given: User asks "update claude code" Then: Retrieve Claude Code update instructions via delegation, execute update

Scenario 4: Dry run mode

Given: User asks "show me how to update my AI tools without running anything" Then: Detect installed tools, retrieve update instructions, display without executing

Scenario 5: Check only mode

Given: User asks "what versions of AI tools do I have?" Then: Detect installed tools and report versions without attempting updates or installs

Scenario 6: Install missing tools (default)

Given: User runs update and some tools are not installed Then: Offer to install missing tools via delegation, install on confirmation, report results

Scenario 7: Install with --install flag

Given: User runs with --install flag Then: Install all missing tools without prompting, then update existing tools

Scenario 8: npm fallback detection

Given: Tool is installed via npm but not in PATH Then: Two-tier detection finds it via npm list -g, reports as "Installed (npm only)", suggests PATH fix

Scenario 9: Skip install with --no-install

Given: User runs with --no-install flag and some tools are not installed Then: Skip missing tools, only update tools that are already installed

Version History

Version	Date	Changes
1.1.0	2026-02-15	Two-tier detection (PATH + npm fallback), install workflow with --install/--no-install modes, Install Delegation Chain in registry
1.0.0	2026-01-17	Initial release - delegation-first design, support for Claude Code, Gemini CLI, Codex CLI

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Model: Claude Opus 4.6 (claude-opus-4-6) Last Updated: 2026-02-15

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